

/ 




//^r 







SPEECH OF GENERAL BUTLER, 



Against farther dtlays in the Trial of Impeachment in the Senate sitting on the Trial of 
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, Thursday, April \Q, 18G8, lu/iicA 
was doiominated hy Mr. Evarts, one of the Presidents Counsel, and by Mr. Doo- 
little, of Wisconsin, a "harangue f^ together with the tables of the Sales of Gold and 
Purchase of Seven-thirty Notes, which were referred to but not read. 



Mr. Manager BUTLER. Mr. President, I 
hope upon this movement for delay the Presi- 
dent's counsel will be called upon to go on 
with the'ir case, and I have only to put to them 
the exact word which the President's counsel, 
Messrs. Cox and Merrick, used in the case of 
General Thomas before the criminal court of 
this District, according to Merrick's testimony. 
It is always ungracious to object to delay asked 
because of the sickness of counsel. We should 
be glad to have Mr. Stanbery here, but these 
gentlemen present can try this case. There 
are four of them. When a motion to post- 
pone the case of Thomas before Chief Justice 
.Cartter was made because of the sickness of 
Mr. Carpenter, for a single day, the Presi- 
dent's counsel, arguing his case, trying his case 
before the court said, "No; a case involving 
so much of public administration cannot wait 
for the sickness of counsel." " I thank thee, 
Jew, for teaching me that word." The Presi- 
dent's counsel there well told us what we here 
ought to do. In the case of Mr. Thomas the 
President could not wait for sick men or sick 
women. The case must go through. We can- 
not wait now, on the same ground, for the 
sickness of the learned Attorney General ; and 
why should we? Why should not this respond- 



ent be called upon now to go on? We have 
been here thirty-three working days since the 
President actually filed his answer, and we, the 
Managers, have used but six days of them, and 
the counsel but part of seven. Twenty-one of 
them have been given to delays on motion of 
the President, and there have been four ad- 
journments on the days we have worked earlier 
than the usual time of adjournment, in order 
to accommodate the President. 

Now, the whole legislation of this country is 
being stopped ; the House of Representatives 
has to be, day by day, here at your bar. The 
taxes of the country cannot be revised because 
this trial is in the way. The appropriations for 
carrying on the Government cannot be passed 
because this trial is in the way. Nothing can 
be done, and the whole country waits upon us 
and our action, and it is not time now for the 
exhibitions of courtesy. Larger, higher, greater 
interests are at stake than such questions of 
ceremony. Far be it from me not to desire to 
be courteous, and not to desire that we should 
have our absent and sick friend here to take 
part with us ; but the interests of the people are 
greater than the interests of any one individual. 

Gentlemen of the Senate, this is the clos- 
ing up of a war wherein three hundred thou- 







sund men laid down their lives to save the coun- 
try. In one duy we sacrificed them by tens 
and twenties of thousands on the field of 
battle, and shall the country wait now in its 
march to safety because of the sickness of one 
man and pause for an indefinite time, because 
the duration of sickness is always indefinite ? 
More than that, I have here in my hand tes- 
timony of what is going on this day and this 
hour in the South. 

Mr. CURTIS. We object to the introduc- 
tion of any testimony. 

Mr. EVARTS. We object to the relevancy 
of it here. 

Mr. Manager BUTLER. The relevancy of 
it is this, that while we are waiting for the 
Attorney General to get well, and you are asked 
to delay this trial for that reason, numbers of 
our fellow-citizens are being murdered day by 
day. There is not a man here who does not 
know that the moment justice is done on this 
great criminal these murders will cease. 

Mr. CURTIS rose. 

Mr. Manager BUTLER. I cannot be inter- 
rupted. This is the great fact which stands 
here before us, and we are asked " Why stand 
ye here idle?" by every true man in the coun- 
try. Mr. Chief Justice, in Alabama your 
register of bankruptcy, appointed by yourself. 
General Spencer, of Tuscaloosa, is driven to- 
day from his duties and his home by the Ku- 
Klux-Klan, upon fear of his life, and I have 
the evidence of it lying on our table; and 
shall we here delay this trial any longer, under 
our responsibility to our countrymen, to our 
consciences, and to our God, because of a 
question of courtesy? While we are being cour- 
teous the true Union men of the South are being 
murdered, and on our heads and on our skirts 
is their blood, if we remain any longer idle. 

Again, sir, since you have begun this trial — 
I hold the sworn evidence of what I say in my 
hand — since the 20th day of February last I 



and up to the 4th day of this present April — 
and no gold had been sold by the Treasury 
priortothattimesince December 12— §10,800,- 

000 of your gold has been sold at a sacrifice to 
your Treasury, and by whom? More than ©ne- 
halfofit, S5,G0O,OO0, by one McGinnis, whom 
the Senate would not permit to hold office, and 
over ten thousand dollars in currency, of which 

1 have the official evidence here, under the 
sworn oath of the Assistant Treasurer at New 
York, has been paid to him, after the Senate 
had refused to have him hold any office and 
bad rejected him as a minister to Sweden. He 
now takes charge of the sale of your gold by 
order of the Executive, as a broker, and we are 
to wait day in and day out while he puts into 
his pocket, from the Treasury of the country, 
money by the thousands, because this gold is 
sold from one and one eighth per cent, fo three 
per cent, lower than the market rates at differ- 
ent dates, as taken from the best tables. The 
commissions alone amount to what I have said, 
supposing the gold to be sold honestly by this 
rejected diplomat. 

Worse still, sir ; I have here from the same 
source the fact that since the 1st day of Janu- 
ary last there have been bought in the city of 
New York alone, on behalf of the Treasury, 
$27,058,100 of the bonds of the United States, 
by men who return them from three eighths, 
one half, five eighths to three quarters above 
the market price, and since February 20, 
$14,181,000 worth. 

Mr. Manager LOGAN. Below. 

Mr. Manager BUTLER. No ; I mean what 
I say, above. I never make mistakes in such 
matters. I know what I say. From the 3d of 
January to the 28th of January, by such pur- 
chases, the price of bonds was run up and the 
people were made to pay that difference — run up 
from one hundred and four and three quarters 
to one hundred and eight per cent., and still 
the purchases went on, and they have gone on 



from January 1 down to the 4lh of April, 
■when the Managers of impeachment on the 
part of the House of Representatives felt it 



their duty to take this testimony of the Assist- 
ant Treasurer at New York under oath, and the 
result of it I here lay in detail before jou : 



Sales of Gold from Januarj 1, 18G8, to April 4, 18G8, indusioe. 



Date. 



By whom sold. 



February 20. 18G8.. 
February 21, 1803.. 
February 21, 18G3... 
February 21, 180S... 
February 21, 1808... 
February 21. 18153... 
February 2(5. 1SG8... 
February 2(5, 18GS... 
February 26. 1863... 

March 10. 1868 

March 11. 1368 

Marcl' 12, 1863 

March 14, 1308 

March 14, 1863 

March 14. 1868 

March 16, 1863 

Marcli 16, 1863 

March 16, 1863 

March 16, 1863. 

March 16, 1868 

March 16. 1863 

March 18. 1868 

March 13. 1368 

March 18, 1863 

March 19, 1868 

Mnrch 19, 1863 

' March 19, 1863 

March 19, 1868 

March 19, 1868 

March 19, 1863 

March 20, 1868 

Marcii 20, 1868 

March 20, 1868 

March 20, 1868 

M-arcb 20, 1863 

March 21,1863 

March 21,1863 

March 21. 1858 

March 21, 1863 

March 21, 1863 

March 21, 1368 

March 23. 1808 

March 23,1863, 



Jay Cooke & Co 

P. M. Meyers k. Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

p. M. Meyers * Co 

P. M. jMcycis & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McOinnis Brothers & Smith.. 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGiniiis Brothers & Smith.. 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinuis Brothers & Smith.. 
McGiunis Brothers <Si Smith.. 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & (!o 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith., 



P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith., 



Amount. 



McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smitli 

McGinnis Brotliers & Smith 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

Jay Coolic & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyeis & Co 

Jay Cooke & Co 

Jay Cooke & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

Jay Coolvc k, Co 

March 24^ 1863 1 P. M. Meyers & Co 

March 24, 1868 P. M. Meyers k Co 

March 24, 1863 McGinnis Brothers k bmitli 

March 24. 1368 McGinnis Brothers k Smith 



M:ircli 24, 1868. 

March 25, 1868 

M^irch 25, 1868 

March 2.5, 1868 

March 25, 1868 

March 26, 1868 

March 26, 1868 

March 27. 1863 

3Ifirch27, 1863 

March 27, 1868 

March 27. 1868 

March 27, 1868 

March 27. 1368 

Marcii 27, 1868 

March 23, 1868 

March 28. 1368 



P. M. Meyers & Co. 

McGinnis Brothers k Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brotliers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers k Smitli 

McGinnis Brotliers & Smith 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

,Tav Cooke <fe Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Sujith 

McGinnis Brothers & SmUh 

McGinnis Brothers k Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

P. M. Meyers k Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis I!roihcrs k Smith 

McGinuis Brothers & Smith 



Carried forward S7,200,000 



Rate. 



t200,000 
100.000 
100,000 
50.000 
150,000 
100,000 
100,000 
120,000 
30,000 
200,000 
100,000 
100,000 
100,000 
200,000 
50,000 
65,000 
35.000 
40,0»J 
60,000 
100,000 
100.000 
100.000 
80,000 
120,000 
95,000 
105,000 
100,000 
25,000 
75,000 
100,000 
100,000 
200,100 
50.000 
150,000 
100,000 
200,000 
100,000 

100,000 

100,000 
50,000 
50,000 

100.000 

100.000 
50,000 
50,000 

175,000 
25,000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

60,000 

40,(00 

400,000 

300,000 

2t)0,000 

190,000 

10,000 

50,000 

150.000 

100,000 

300,000 

300.00Q 

200,000 



Commis- 
sion. 



140J 

140} 

\m 

141i 

141 

14U 

14U 

14U 

14U 

1401: 

1.39^- 

140 

1393^ 

139i 

139 

1391 

139,'j 

139J 

1391 

139 V 

139i 

138.^ 

lo8.V 

1381 

138* 

138 i- 

138J 

138J 

138 ;t 
lo8| 
1.38J 
138} 
133 i- 
1381 
138} 
138} 
139 

1:58} 

l:!3J 
139^ 

139 i 

13!!^ 
138i 
138 i: 
1381 
i:!8^ 

138a^ 

vm 

138} 
138J 
138i 
1.381 

i;«} 

133i- 
1.381 
138^ 
1381- 
1.38} 
1.381 
l.S-SJ- 
\?^\ 
1381 



S250 00 



625 00 



312 50 
250 00 
125 00 
125 00 
125 00 

312 50 



250 00 



250 00 
125 00 



250 00 



Quotations from 

Hunt's Mer- 
chants' Magazine. 




375 CO 



250 00 
125 00 
250 00 



375 00 

375 00 

250 00 

125 00 
125 00 
125 00 

125 CO 

250 00 
125 00 



375 00 
500 00 
375 00 
250 00 



500 00 

5o5oa 



41} 



140} 
39} 
40 3^ 
39} 



39J 



38J 
38J 



39i- 
381 



2&\ 
381 



38} 



•ill 



39J 
39} 
39J 
39i- 



■M 



381 
38.V 



1= 



391- 

38J 
38 

38} 

38} 
38} 



STATEMENT— Continued. 



Date. 



March 28, 1868... 
March 28, 1868.... 
March 28. 1868.... 
March 28, 1868.... 
March 28, 1868.... 
March 28, 1868.... 
March 28, 1868.... 
March 30, 1868.... 
March 30, 1868.... 
March 30, 1868.... 
March 31, 1868.... 
March 31, 1868... 
March 31. 1868..., 
March 31, 1868... 
March 31, 1868..., 
March 31, 1868... 

April 1, 1868 

April 1, 1808 

April 1, 1868 

April 2, 1868 

April 2. 1868 

April 3, 1868 

April 3, 1868 

April 3, 1868 

April 4, 1868 

April 4, 1868 

April 4. 1868 



By whom sold. 



Brought forward... 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.. 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.. 

Jay Cooke & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 



McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith 

Jay Cooke ifc Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brotliers & Smith.... 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 
McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 
McGinnis Brothers i; Smith.... 

Jay Cooke & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

P. M. Meyers & Co 

McGinnis Brothers & Smith.... 
Fisk & Hatch 



Amount. 



$7, 



,200,000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

50,000 

250,000 

60,000 

50,000 

300,000 

100,000 

100,000 

135,000 

40,000 

25,000 

85,000 

115,000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

200,000 

200,000 

200,000 

100,000 

100,000 

250,000 

250,000 

300,000 



Kate. 



$10,800,000 



13SJ 

138j 

1.381 

1384 

138.^ 

139 

1.38f 

139 

138? 

138.^ 

138.^ 

138i 

138J 

1381 

138J 

1381 

138^ 

1381 

138i: 

1.38 
138 

138 

138 

1381- 

138i 

13Si 

138r 



Commis- 
sion. 



875 00 
125 00 



375 GO 

125 00 



500 00 
125 00 



250 00 



375 00 

250 00 
125 00 
2.50 00 
250 00 
250 00 
125 00 
125 00 
312 50 
312 50 



Quotations from 
Hunt's Mer- 
chants' Magazine. 



Highest. 



39f 
38i 



Closing 



381 
381 



*Sold direct without commission. xt -i' 4 •; t lero 

TJnitkd States Treasury, New i ork, April 7, 1868. 

I certify the accompanying statement to be a correct transcript from the books of this Department. 

H. U. VAN DYCK. Assistant Treasurer. 

Note.— Quotations not certified by Mr. Van Dyck. 

[Note.— This and the following table show that gold was not sold to buy currency to meet the 
wants of the Government, but for partisan and political purjioses. During the same time more cur- 
rency was expended by the Government in purchasing bonds than was received from sales of gold. 
On February 24 gold was 144, but no gold was returned as sold on that day ; but on the 2t)th 
$250,000 was so returned, thus making a loss to the Treasury of $6,750 on this single day's 
sale. Some curious results will be obtained by a study of this table.] 



Purchases of Seven- Thirty Notes. 



Date. 


Of whom purchased. 


Amount. 


Rate. 


1868. 
J. -.n nary 3 
January 6 
January 8 
January 11 
January 11 
January 13 
January 15 
January 16 
Ja,nuary 17 
January 17 
January 17 
January 17 
January 17 


Vermilyc k Co 

Jay Cooke & Co 


$250,000 
250,000 
250,000 
200,000 
300,000 
300,000 
999,500 
250,000 
500,000 
200,000 
27,000 
2-50,000 
300,000 


101} 


Fisk & Hatch 


1051 
105j 


Vcrmilye & Co 

P. M. Myers & Co 


]05t 
lOol 
105} 




105} 


Fisk & Hatch 


105} 


H. A. Heiser's Sons.... 


105J 
105} 


P. M. Myers k Co 

Carried forward 


105^ 




$4,076,500 





STATEMENT-Continued. 



Date. 



1868. 
January 18 
January 20 
January 20 
.January 21 
January 21 
January 21 
January 21 
January 24 
January 27 
January 28 
January 28 
J.inuary 29 
January 30 



Of whom purchased. 



Brought forward. 
Rodman, Fisk & Co. 

Ja,y Cooke & Co 

Hatch, Foote k Co... 
T. S. Quackenbush... 

Vcrmilye & Co 

Edward Sweet & Co. 

Fisk & Hatch 

Jay Coolve & Co 

Fisk & Hatch 

Jay Cooke k Co 

Rodman, Fisk k Co., 

Vcrmilye & Co 

Vcrmilye & Co 



Amount. 



$4,076,500 
100,000 
250,01)0 
100,000 
50,000 
400.000 
100,U00 
2.50,(!00 
500,000 
500, OUO 
350.000 
300,000 
500,000 
200.000 



Carried forward | §7.676.500 



Rate 



105J 

lOot 

lOos- 

105J 

1052- 

1(.I5J 

1U3 

107 

1071 

108 

108 

107} 

107* 



T o^i TT Brought forward.. 

January 30 Vermilye & Co 

January .31 Fisk & Hatch.. 

January 31 J.ay Cook <t Co 

January 31 Vermilye & Co... 

|,«'b;y.^O Rodman. Fisk & Co":; 

|^eby20 White, Morris & Co... 

feby21 Vermilye & Co 

l^b'y^l P. V. Myers A Co 

|eby24 Vermiiye&Co 

|«-by24 Jay Cooke A Co... 

Feb y 24 Vermilye & Co 

geb y 24 Jay Cooke & Co... 

Feb y 25 Jay Cooke & Co. 

Feb y 2.5 Vermilye & Co 

Feb'y 25 Vermilye & Co 

F«bT 2o Jay Cooke & Co.... 

Feb y 26 Jay Cooke & Co.... 

Feb y 26 Vermilye & Co 

Feb y 26 Vermilye & Co 

PoK-...,« ' Fisk A Hatch.... 

Fisk & Hatch 

Jay Cooke & Co.... 

Vermilye & Co 

First Nati<mal Bank. 

Kodman. Fisk & Co 

Central National B'k. 

Frank & Gantz 

1* irst National Bank. 

Hatch, Footed Co 

Smith, Randolph & 

Fiik&uatch""".".'";::; 

H. A. Helser's Sons... 

11. A. Heiser's Sons... 

iisk& Hatch.... 

Ti, c :^ -I yerinilye&Co ..'. 

March 26... Smith. Randolph & 

m''""'!? zh\ |ir.st'NationarBank.: 
March 2b... Rodman, Fisk & Co 

Fisk X- Hatch 

Rodman, Fisk & Co... 
H. A. Heiser's Sons.., 

Hatch, Foote&Co 

H. Clews & Co 

Lounsbury & Fau- 

shaw 

Vermilye & Co..'".'.'.'.'..'.'. 
Jay Cooke & Co.. 
Sinith.^ Randolph '& 

Co 

First NationafBank" 

«i Brooklyn 

Mechanics' Bank...!! 

Dorr Russell 

H. A. Heiser's Sons.. 

Vermilye & Co 

Fisk & Hatch 

Jay Cooke A Co 

Torrey, Gidding & 

Torrey 

Smith, Randolph"*' 

, I Co 

Afr.'l 2 1 Central NatioualB'k.' 

Frank & Gantz.... 
Drexel, Winthrop '&" 

April 2 Fisk'&'liatch"'.; 

-April 2 Hatch, Foote & Co 

April 2. Phoenix Bank 

-^Piil 2 Rodman, Fisk &"c'o'.'.'. 

A!)ril 2 Ocean Bank. .. 

4l^'il 2 H. A. Heiser's Sons 

April 2 Trademan's Bank 

Apnl 2 p. M. Meyers & Co.' 



F'eb'y26. 
March 18.. 
March 18.. 
March l;».. 
March 19.. 
March 19.. 
March 20... 
March 24... 
March 24... 
March 24... 
March 24... 

March 24... 
March 24... 
March 2-5... 
March 25... 
March 2-' 



March 26.. 
March 31.. 
March 31.. 
March 31.. 
March 31... 
March 31. 

March 31. 
March 31. 
Aprill 



April 1. 

Aprill. 
Aprill. 
Aprill. 
April 1., 
April 1.. 
April 2.. 
April 2. . 

April 2.. 



April 
April 1 



Carried forward.. 



50.000 
250,000 

17,500 
350,000 
300,000 
500,000 

100,000 
50,000 
26,000 

300,000 
50,000 

300,000 

2:>o,ooo 

12.100 

50.000 
300.000 
300, OUO 



100,000 105r 



1051 
105} 
105J- 
105J 
105* 
105J 
105J 



50,000 

50,000 

15,000 

67,000 

250.000 

300,000 

300,000 



105J 

I05»i 
1051- 
105.^ 
105^ 
105^ 

105J 
105i 
105^ 
105J- 
1051- 
105* 
105* 
105J 

1051 
10.5 J 
105f 



40,000 105J 



50,000 

25,000 

100,000 



105J 
105 J 
105* 



A„ -^o' T Brought forward. 

Ip"-! 2 J.L.Brownell&Co 

^P"-.' 2 Stone & Downer 

4Pr! 3 Vermilye A Co. 

4P'"} 3 Jay Cook & Co.. 

Ij""? 3 Lockwood & Co 

f''^\?, Newton Russell & Co 

4'"} 3 Howes A Macy 

Apr} 3 Fisk & Hatch. 

4!"'! 3 Central National B'''k.. 

4p'-! 3 Hatch, Foote & Co.... 

^PH 3 Baker & Kitchen.. 

^Pr.' 3 Rodman. Fisk & Co 

April 4 Rodman. Fisk ct Co 

April 4 Ninth National B'k 



«25,443,600 

50.000 

55,000 

250,000 

300.000 

660,000 

25,000 

5,000 

250,000 

10,000 

25,000 

34,000 

35,000 

25,000 

50,000 



105J 
1051 
105 J 
105* 
105* 
105* 
105* 
105* 
105* 
105? 
105* 
10.5* 
105* 
105* 



>,443,600 



Office of Asslst.^nt Treasurke United States 
New loRK, ^pri^e, 1868. estates. 

U. H. VAN DYCK. Assistant Treasurer. 

[N-QTE.— By looking at the table of the pur- 
chase of bonds it will be seen that from Jan- 
uary 11 to the 21st inclusive, by buying up its 
own notes and thus running up the premium, 
the Government lost $65,700 03 on $3,503,500, 
In thus buying in the seven-thirty notes, which 
should not have been done at all, the Govern- 
ment lost $170,795 62 in ten days. 

Again, McGinnis swung round the circle 
with Johnson and was nominated as minister 
to Sweden, and rejected by the Senate July 
26, 1867. On the 12th of August, 1867, he set 
up a broker's shop in New York, and was 
intrusted by the Treasury with sales of Gov- 
ernment gold.] 

These tables are from the sworn testimony 
of H. H. Van Dyck, given before the Managers 
and certified by him. 

Now, I say, for the safety of the finances of 
the people, for the progress of the legi.sIation 
of the people, for the safety of the tnie and 
loyal men, black and white, in the Soutli who 
have periled their lives for four years; yea, 
five years ; yea, six years; yea, seven years, in 
your behalf, for the good of the country, for all 
that is dear to any man and patriot, I pn^y 
let this trial proceed; let us come to a de- 
termination of this issue. If the President of 
the United States goes free and acquit, then 
the country must deal with that state of facts 



as it arises; but if he, as the House of Repre- 
sentatives instructs me, and o,s 1 believe, is 
guilty; if on his head rests the responsibility; 
if from his policy, from his obstruction of the 
peace of the country, all this corruption and 
all these murders come, in the name of Heaven 
let us have an end of them and see to it that 
we can sit at least four hours a day to attend 
to this the great business of the people. 

Sir, it may be supposed here that i am mis- 
taken as to time wasted ; but let us see ; let me 
give you day and date. The articles of im- 
peachment were presented on March 4, and 
the summons was returnable March 13, at 
which time the President, by its terms, was 
requested to answer. Delay was given, on his 
application for forty days, to the 23d — ten days, 
then the answer was filed, and a motion was 
made for thirty days' delay, which failed. Then 
a motion for a reasonable time after replication 
was filed, which was done on the 24th. Time 
was given, on this motion of the President's 
counsel, until the 30th — six days. On that day 
the Managers opened their case, and proceeded 
without delay with their evidence till April 4 
— six days. Then, at the request of President's 
counsel, we adjourned to April 9 — five days. 
Mr. Curtis opened a part of a day, and asked for 
an adjournment till the 10th, wherein we lost 
half a day. They continued putting in evi- 
dence till the 11th (12th being Sunday) and 
13th. Because of sickness, adjourned again 
over till Wednesday, 14th. Wednesday ad- 
journed early, because counsel could go no 
further. Thursday, now another motion to 
adjourn, because counsel cannot go on. Thirty- 
four days since the President filed his answer; 
six days used by the Managers in patting in 
thtif case; parts of seven used by the counsel 
for the President, and twenty-one given as 
delay to the President on his motion. 

I do not speak of all this to complain of the 
Senate, but only that you and the country may 



see exactly how courteous and how kind you 
have been to the criminal and to his counsel. 
Yielding to the request of the counsel who 
opened you lost half a day. Then the open- 
ing consumed parts of two days. On the next 
day they said they were not quite ready to go 
through with General Sherman, and you again 
adjourned earlier than usual. Then we lost 
almost all of Monday in discussing the questions 
which were thereupon raised. We adjourned 
early on Monday, as you remember, and on the 
next day there was an adjournment almost im- 
mediately after the Senate met, because of the 
learned Attorney General. Now, all we ask 
is that this case may go on. 

If it be said that we are hard in our demands 
that this trial go on, let me contrast for a 
moment this case with a great State trial in 
England, at which were present Lord Chief 
Justice Eyre, Lord Chief Baron McDonald, 
Baron Hotham, Mr. Justice BuUer, Sir Nash 
Grose, Mr. Justice Lawrence, and others of 
her majesty's judges in the trial of Thomas 
Hardy for treason. There the court sat from 
nine o'clock in the morning until one o'clock 
at night, and they thus sat there from Tuesday 
until Friday night at one o'clock, and then, 
when Mr. Erskine, afterward Lord Chancellor 
Erskine, asked of that court that they would 
not come in so early by an hour the next day 
because he was unwell and wanted time, the 
court after argument refused it, and would not 
give him eventhathour in which to reflect upon 
his opening which he was to make, and which 
occupied nine hours in its delivery, until the 
jury asked it, and then they gave him but a 
single hour, although he said upon his honor 
to the court that every night he had not got to 
his house until between two and three o'clock 
in the morning, and he was regularly in court 
at nine o'clock on the following morning. 

That is the way cases of great consequence 
are tried in England. That is the way other 



• 'i 



courts sit. 1 am not complaining here, Sena- 
tors, understand me. I am only contrasting 
the delays given, the kindnesses shown, the 
courtesies extended in this greatest of all 
cases, and where the greatest interests are at 
stake, compared with every other case ever 
tried elsewhere. The Managers are ready. 
We have been ready ; at all hazards and sacri- 
fices we would be ready. We only ask that 
now the counsel for the President shall be 
likewise ready, and go on without these in- 
terminable delays with which, when the House 
began this impeachment, the friends of the 
President there rose up and threatened. You 
will find such threats in the Globe. Mr. James 
Brooks, of New York, said, in substance, 
*'You can go on with your impeachment, but 
I warn you that we will make you go through 
all the forms, and if you go through all the 
forms we will keep it going until the end of 
Mr. Johnson's term, and it will be fruitless." 
Having thus threatened j'ou, Senators, I had 
supposed that you would not allow the threat 
to be carried out, as it is attempted to be car- 
ried out, by these continued delays. 

Mr. President and Senators, I have thus 
given you the reasons pressing upon my mind 
why this delay should not be had ; and I admit 



I have done it with considerable warmth, be- 
cause I feel warmly. I open no mail of mine 
that I do not take up an account from the 
South of some murder or worse, of some 
friend of the country. I want these things to 
stop. Many a man whom I have known stand- 
ing by my side for the Union I can hear of 
now only as laid in the cold grave by the 
assassin's hand. This has stirred my feelings, 
I admit. The loss of my friends, the loss to 
the countryof those who have stood by it, has, 
perhaps, very much stirred my heart, so that 
I have not been able with that coolness with 
which judicial proceedings should be car- 
ried on to address you upon this agonizing 
tojjic. I say nothing of the threats of assassin- 
ation made every hour and upon every occa- 
sion, even when objection to testimony is made 
by the Managers. I say nothing of the threats 
made against the lives of the great officers of 
the Senate and against the Managers. We 
are all safe. There is an old Scotch proverb 
in our favor: " The threatened dog aye lives 
the longest." We have not the slightest fear 
of these cowardly menaces ; but all these 
threats, these unseemly libels on our form of 
government will go away when this man goes 
out of the White House. 



Printed at the Congressional Globe Office. 



9 909 98L £10 



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